If you’re new to slot gaming and are keen to know more about slot tips and slot strategy, this is the place for you. We at ManySpins want you to feel as knowledgeable as possible, so you’ll love online casino games as much as us. After all, we really are in the golden age of slot gaming.
All you have to do is keep reading our helpful online slots guide to find out all kinds of useful information like how online slots work, how to win on slots and the best places for playing slots.
Reels and rows
The first thing to know is that the online slots you are playing right now work on the same basis as the ones in casinos. There are a certain number of reels and a certain number of rows in each slot. While the traditional classic is 3×3, the common standard is for there to be 4 or 5 reels and 3 or 4 rows. There are plenty of online slots with more though, like Reactoonz and Diamond Vortez, which both have 7×7.
Symbols
Each grid has symbols of different values. In a lot of slots, you’ll often see the card symbols of Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10. The Ace will be the highest, but these will be among the lowest ranked symbols. To win the big prizes you’ll wanting to be the specially designed symbols, including Wilds (which work as a Joker in replacing all symbols but the Scatter) and the Scatter, which with 3 or more will enable you to access a Bonus Round.
Tradtional paylines
If you succeed in matching a specific set of 3+ symbols in a particular payline, then you win. It will always be clear if you have won, with your winning amount showing on the screen before going into your game account. Usually, these paylines go left to right, but there will be some that go both ways or just from the right.
• Register/log in: Once you have chosen the online casino you want, log in and choose the slot which most appeals to you.
• Check the information page: You’ll see details like paylines/ways to win, RTP, variance, the value of each symbol and how the bonuses work.
• Adjust your bet: Use the plus and minus buttons to make your bet. Minimum and maximum bets depend on the game so be sure you know the exact amount you want to play per spin.
• Adjust the number of paylines: While it won’t apply to all slots, with some you will be able to choose the amount of paylines you can play for. The more you choose, the more your bet will be worth and the more you can win.
• Press spin: It’s not available in the UK among other regions, but in the majority of countries you can check for an Autoplay or Game Speed option. Any winnings will be clearly highlighted and automatically loaded into your account.
Different types of Bonus Rounds
Modern ways to win
Modern innovations have created a ‘cascading reels’ form of spin. Rather than paylines, they use a “Ways to win” which can be over a thousand different ways to win. Created by Big Time Gaming, it works on a system that symbols can be replaced on each reel from one spin to the next, up to a maximum of 7 symbols per reel. Wins also require identical symbols to match on at least two reels.
Tips for winning
Decide what player you want to be: There are all kinds of ways to play slots, with games catering for every possible type of player. Do you want to be a player who plays with small bets and more straightforward games? Or do you want go more major jackpots with bigger bets? You can always change or keep switching, but decide what works best for you in that moment and go with it.
Read up everything about a slot: Ignorance may be bliss, but when it comes to slots, knowledge is power. That’s why the more you read, the more chance you have of a strong slot strategy. Find out how many paylines or ways to win there are, as well as what the betting minimum and maximum is, and how much you can win. If you want to play for bigger jackpots, then the high variance slots are for you.
Play for free if you can first: ManySpins has all the best slots from all the major providers, divided into helpful categories, such as by slot providers and slot types. This will help you understand the intricacies of each game without the pressure of actual betting. In particular, for Bonus Rounds, as newer slots in particular will have numerous features.
Look out for incredible incentives: The best online casinos will have all kinds of incredible offers. Some will be No Deposit, which means you can win money even have to deposit any money, and Deposit Bonuses which means your deposit will be matched to a really high percentage. Whichever you choose, there will usually be a cash reward or Free Spins.
Look for a high RTP: It stands for Return to Player and describes the amount a slot pays back to the players over a large number of spins, usually expressed as a percentage. That means the higher the RTP, the bigger your chance of winning is. Average RTP is around 96%, so look out for those with higher.
The different types of Jackpot Slots:
Fixed Jackpots: As you’ll have guessed from the title, these don’t change. If you check the information page, you’ll be able to see how much the maximum win is, and will be paid out immediately. And they sure can be big. One of the reasons Sweet Bonanza is so popular is its fantastic £21,175 payout.
Progressive Jackpots: A Progressive Jackpot is like hearing a fantastic piece of music until it builds to the crescendo. You’re just waiting and waiting until it hits, with the added bonus of a huge reward. It works by a small percentage of each bet going towards the pot, so if no one hits it rolls over, making an even bigger jackpot.
Mega Moolah famously has 4 types of Progressive Jackpots. The more you play for, the better chance you have of playing for a bigger prize.
Here at ManySpins we cover 21 of the finest slot providers and we recommend them all. But here are 5 of the most prominent to get you started.
You’ll most likely know NetEnt from their iconic classics Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and Hall of Gods. We have them all, plus 150 others from the legendary software provider. Now part of industry behemoth Evolution, their major selling points include their huge jackpots, fantastic Live Casino and above average RTP.
The godfathers of slot gaming and the first to come up with an online slot in 1994 and a progressive slot in 1998 with Cash Splash. They also memorably released Tomb Raider in 2005, showing how successful a film adaption could be. You’ll see they’ve continued that tradition well with the Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones series.
If Play n’ Go had only created the Rich Wilde series, we’d still be tempted to include them. Our favourite intrepid slot explorer has had countless superb adventures, including one of the industry’s most beloved games in the Book of Dead. You’ll also love how easy Play’N GO games are to play, as well as how visually striking and their in-game bonuses.
They were only formed in 2015, but have come a long way since, including creating two of the industry’s biggest successes, Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza. As well as their vast array of slots, they’re known for their visual quality and their games being available in 20 languages.
Quickspin: Founded in 2011 and bought out by Playtech in 2016, the Swedish company have continued to impress with their slick gameplay, impressive bonuses and above average RTP. While not as prolific as others on this list, they have established an esteemed reputation for their slots, including Big Bad Wolf Megaways and Sticky Bandits.
The first thing you need to do is research the game, by checking out its RTP, volatility and betting options. There are slots for all kinds of players, and you’ll get the most enjoyment by playing a slot that fits in most with your playing strategy.
Not all slots have bonuses as some of the vintage classics famously keep things simple with few paylines and no bonus rounds. All other slots will include at least one, but usually several, and how you play them will be part of your strategy.
All the bonuses in different slots will be different, so you will need to read them carefully before playing. Some will be optional, such as the Gamble Feature, while others will be more automatic, such as Wilds. In a lot of games, playing for higher bets will increase your possibilities of landing the Bonus Rounds, so you need to consider your slot strategy.
It all depends on the type of slot you are playing. If it has a fixed amount, it will tell you on the information page of the slot you are playing. If you are on a Progressive Jackpot, the amount won’t be fixed. There are slots with several jackpots which depend on how much you bet on one spin, so it all depends how you are playing slots online.